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Ouders overleden Chinese student winnen rechtzaak

The parents of a student runner who died in the 2005 Beijing Marathon has been awarded 340,000 yuan (42,500 US dollars) in compensation after winning a lawsuit against the university their single son had represented.The Beijing Haidian District Court, which made the ruling on Friday, asked reporters not to name the deceased student and gave the alias “Xiao Gang” instead.

Beijing marathon
Xiao Gang, who represented Beijing Geely University, ran in the Beijing Marathon in October 2005 and collapsed halfway. He was pronounced dead after being rushed to a nearby hospital. Geely University argued that they couldnt be held responsible for Xiao Gangs death because Xiao Gang had not paid tuition or completed the enrollment procedure.
“As a matter of fact, Xiao Gang wasnt a Geely student and it was his own decision to run the marathon,” said a Geely representative who declined to be named. “Xiao Gang agreed to take all the responsibilities for the loss and damage incurred by the run when he registered for the marathon,” he added. Xiao Gangs parents said Xiao Gang ran for the interest of Geely University. A good finish by Xiao Gang would have helped publicity of the little known university and won awards for the school, added the parents. The parents had earlier won 83,000 yuan (10,375 US dollars) in compensation from the marathon organizers. Xiao Gangs parents also showed the evidences that proved Xiao Gang had represented Geely University several times before his fatal run in Beijing Marathon.